As shareholders of New Jersey Resources entered the company’s annual meeting at the Eagle Oaks Country Club in Howell on Jan. 20, several residents of Upper Freehold Township held up signs to make those shareholders aware of how they feel about the possibility a high-pressure gas pipeline being constructed through the rural western Monmouth County community. New Jersey Resources is the parent company of New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), which has said that planning for a gas pipeline through Upper Freehold Township and nearby municipalities is underway.
As each shareholder arrived at about 8 a.m., he or she was greeted by members of Families for Responsible Pipelines. The group’s members have said that if a gas pipeline has to be run through Upper Freehold, then the safest possible route must be followed.
Resident John Inzilla said people want to make sure that NJNG executives understand how they feel about the issue.
“We have put so much work into making sure our voices are being heard, and we are looking forward to this pipeline making its way out of Upper Freehold and getting our lives back together,” Inzilla said.
He said NJNG has not provided specific information about what may occur in the community.
“The majority of the comments we get from them are very bland and simply thank us for our interest in New Jersey Natural Gas. They have also been providing us with [information about] the Southern Reliability Link project for our convenience,” Inzilla said.
He said the members of Families for Responsible Pipelines do not want to be confrontational with the utility.
“We hope to remain cordial with NJNG and make sure they are addressing our specific concerns. We just want what is the safest for the residents of our township,” Inzilla said.
Michael Kinney, a senior communications specialist at New Jersey Resources, said NJNG executives have been made aware of the residents’ concerns and have been working to ensure there is communication between the parties.
“We have received several calls and responded to many inquiries in regard to the Southern Reliability Link project, and we are trying to ensure residents that we will provide safe and reliable gas,” he said.
In an update, Kinney said the proposed route for the pipeline through Upper Freehold will not include Nicholas Court, which was among a list of roads that were reported to be possible locations through which the pipeline could pass.
“After receiving concerns from several residents, NJNG examined the area further and found another route that is better and safer and does not include that particular area,” Kinney said.
Currently, the NJNG system connects to an interstate pipeline in Middlesex County that is a single feed providing natural gas to the majority of NJNG’s service territory in Monmouth and Ocean counties, according to Kinney.
“The Southern Reliability Link project will connect to a separate interstate pipeline in Chesterfield, Burlington County, and continue through North Hanover, Upper Freehold and Plumsted until it enters Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. From the base, the SRL connects with NJNG’s system in Manchester, Ocean County,” he said.
According to Upper Freehold officials and revised maps showing a possible route for the gas pipeline, the infrastructure could affect the following roads: Archertown Road, Applegate Lane, Arneytown-Hornerstown Road, Chesterfield-Arneytown Road, Bordentown-Chesterfield Road, Chesterfield Crosswicks Road, Chesterfield-Hornerstown Road, Chesterfield-Jacobstown Road, Harrison Road, Highbridge Road, Hill Road, Hutchinson Road, Lakewood Road, Monmouth Road (Route 537), Moorehouse Road, Paulson Road, Provinceline Road, Route 539, West Colliers Mill Road and U.S. Department of Defense property.
Inzilla said Families for Responsible Pipelines will continue to raise awareness about the issue.
“The group holds meetings weekly to talk about how we can spread the word, so we hope our voice is being heard,” he said.